New Balance 550 BB550FLV: What $139.99 Actually Buys
A sneaker that lists for $139.99 and sells for $94.92 raises a fair question: what do you get in the New Balance 550 for less than the sticker says it should cost? The short answer is the same shoe New Balance sells at full price, built on the same 1989 basketball silhouette, with the usual retail markup trimmed out. Here is what is actually inside the BB550FLV colorway, what it runs like on foot, and where the discount is real.
What's Actually Inside the New Balance 550 BB550FLV?
The upper on this green and grey colorway mixes suede and leather panels over a mesh base, the same combination New Balance uses across the 550 line rather than a cheaper synthetic swap for resale stock. Underneath it sits New Balance's ABZORB foam midsole, a softer compound than the EVA most retro runners use, paired with a rubber outsole that carries the court-tread pattern from the shoe's original basketball design. None of that changes because the pair came from overstock instead of a mall counter.
The compromise, such as it is, shows up in the collar padding, which is thinner than a modern running shoe and was never meant to cushion long runs. This is a basketball shoe wearing retro styling, not a training shoe, and New Balance built it that way back in 1989. The N logo on the side is stitched, not printed, the lace eyelets are reinforced, and the toe cap has the same extra layer of leather the original basketball version needed to survive a hardwood court. Treat it as a court shoe with retro styling and nothing about the construction feels cut down to hit a lower price.
Does the New Balance 550 Run True to Size?
Mostly yes, though the suede upper has less give than mesh runners, so a half size up is common for wide feet, and the reinforced toe cap means the front of the shoe will not stretch out the way a running shoe does after a few wears. Narrow feet tend to do fine at the listed size. We cover the fit question in more depth in our full sizing breakdown of the 550, which tracks the same conclusion across multiple colorways, including this one.
Is $94.92 a Real Discount or List Price Theater?
Against its $139.99 list price, the New Balance 550 BB550FLV in Size 9.5 is priced about 32 percent below list, and that gap holds up because New Balance rarely discounts the 550 line this deep on its own site. Size 12 in the same colorway, the New Balance 550 BB550FLV Size 12, sells for $111.87 against the same $139.99 list, a smaller 20 percent gap simply because less common sizes move slower and get discounted harder to clear. That is the actual mechanism behind resale value here: it tracks size and demand, not some hidden flaw in the shoe.
| Model | List Price | Our Price | Discount |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Balance 550 BB550FLV, Size 9.5 | $139.99 | $94.92 | 32% |
| New Balance 550 BB550FLV, Size 12 | $139.99 | $111.87 | 20% |
| New Balance 740, Size 4.5 | $114.99 | $86.45 | 25% |
550 vs 740: Which Retro New Balance Should You Buy Instead?
If the 550's basketball shape and suede upper are not what you are after, the New Balance 740 trades the court silhouette for a lower-profile running shape and a lighter midsole, closer to a daily trainer than a retro statement piece. We put the two head to head directly in our 550 vs 740 comparison, and the short version is that the 740 suits a narrower foot and a more low-key look, while the 550 is the one people actually recognize on sight.
Beyond these two models, the rest of the current markdowns sit in New Balance's broader retro lineup, alongside other discounted brands in the footwear collection, where sizing and colorway availability change week to week.
Is the 550 Worth Buying at This Price?
At 20 to 32 percent off list, yes, as long as the size you want is still in stock. The construction is unchanged from retail, the materials are the same suede, leather and ABZORB combination New Balance ships everywhere, and the box, hangtag, and lacing are exactly what a boutique would hand you at full price. The only real variable is whether your size survived to this point in the markdown, since overstock sells through unevenly by size rather than all at once. Check the size run before deciding, not the price.
If this colorway fits, it is listed above at the current price. If not, the rest of the current markdowns are in the footwear collection linked above.